'D' gave up points, aims to make one

12-0 record is bottom line, Bearcats say

Dec. 30, 2009

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NEW ORLEANS - In its last four games, the University of Cincinnati defense has surrendered an average of 36.5 points and 424.5 yards.

But the only number that matters to defensive coordinator Bob Diaco and his players is the 12-0 record the Bearcats will take into Friday's Allstate Sugar Bowl against Florida.

"I don't feel like we have to prove anything," said senior linebacker Andre Revels. "I feel like 12 wins speaks for itself. You can judge the defense on how the team's doing. At the end of the day, it's all about the 'W.' "

Diaco, in his first year as UC's defensive coordinator, understands that the numbers are not impressive, certainly not up to his standards, but you won't hear him criticize any of his players.

"The point total is unacceptable, no question," Diaco said. "But the body of work for this group and what they've been able to do is incredible. They've done a wonderful job. I'll just caution you to look at defensive statistics as it relates to the success of the unit."

Former UC coach Brian Kelly, Diaco said, put game plans together to win, "not to have great offensive statistical games or great defensive statistical games."

And no one can argue with a 12-0 record and a second straight Big East title.

The UC defense began the season with 10 new starters, with former offensive players playing defense and young players seeing their first substantial action.

After the first drive of the opening game vs. Rutgers, Diaco said, all but two defensive players had played more than they had in their college careers to that point. By the end of the first half, all but one player had played more than he had ever played, and by the end of the game there was no defensive player who had played more in the year before than he had in the first game.

"I feel like our defense is a bunch of misfit people that just want to play football," said defensive end Alex Daniels, a transfer from Minnesota, where he played running back. "I like that. I love it."

When the season began, the Bearcats were picked to finish third in the Big East despite returning almost everyone from the defending league champions with the most powerful offense in the league. The biggest reason for that was the inexperience on defense.

Kelly and Diaco pieced together a defense they hoped would hold down opponents just enough to allow the offense to do its thing.

And that's pretty much how the season has unfolded.

But on Friday night, Daniels' "misfits" will be facing a Rolls Royce offense led by quarterback Tim Tebow, a former Heisman Trophy winner. It averages 34.7 points and 442.4 yards per game and is almost perfectly balanced between the run and the pass.

On the other side of the ball, the Gators have a defense that allows only 11.5 points per game, which means if the UC defense doesn't rise to the occasion, the equation that has produced a perfect record might not add up to a 13th win.

Diaco makes no attempt to minimize what his unit faces, beginning with Tebow.

"He's a real runner," Diaco said. "He's a physical tackle breaker. The offense creates challenges based on the things they do with him. On almost every play, there's an inside and an outside option for him. It's him with the ball and he has an opportunity to send it out there or send it in here on each particular play. When he throws the ball, he's a very strong, accurate passer."

The Bearcats are confident they can do their thing against Tebow and the Gators if they remain disciplined.

"We need to stay assignment correct and be in our areas and not try to do too much personally," said sophomore linebacker JK Schaffer. "You've got to stop him first. Just do your job. A lot of teams, when they try to do too much, that's when they end up getting hurt."

UC's defensive players have heard all season that their unit is the team's weak link compared to the powerful offense.

They also know there's no better way to disprove that assertion than by shutting down a powerful Florida offense in the Sugar Bowl.

"I guess it feeds our fire a little bit," Schaffer said. "It puts a little bit more of a chip on our shoulder. That would be a great way to stop all that talk real fast."